Machine for conditioning felts of papermaking machines



July 4, 1944. F. w. VICKI-:RY

MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FEIJTS` 0F PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed April 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 4, 1944- F. w. vlcKERY 2,352,991

MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FELTS 0F PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed April 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s NJA Patented July 4, 1944 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FELTS OF PAPERMAKING MACHINES Frederick W. Vickery', London, England, assignor to Vickery Incorporated, Boston, corporation of Massachusetts Mass., a

Application Afprl 14,/1941, Serial No. 388,434

8 Claims.

ered by the suction box. This perforated cylinder` is arranged to be rotated by the passage of the felt thereover. This arrangement is extremely satisfactory where used on work which necessitates a continuous operation on the full width of the machine, such, for example, as on the making wire of the machine, but when used on felts difculties are encountered. For example, if Water is added to the felt for the purpose of cleaning it, it is necessary to remove that waterl and to leave the place where the Water has been applied with substantially the same moisture conforaminous cylinder to use a suction box of substantially less width than the felt located within tent as before the water was applied. To do this a heavy suction is required to operate on the full width of the felt, with such an intensity that it over-conditions the felt, producing a heavy drag and excessive wear and other deteriorations of the felt. On the other hand, if the operation of such a full width suction rollv is interrupted, the sudden change of conditions which results from the'conditioning apparatus being alternately in and out of operation aiects the uniformity of the product being made.

It has also been known to use a perforated ring less than the total width of the felt and to carry such ring on a vacuum box, both of which are traversed backward and forward across the felt as shown, for example, in the Vickery Patent No. 2,173,317. With. this arrangement little more than a line contact is possible between the felt and the ring because it is not practicable to pro- I' vide an extended arc of wrapping contact with structions hereinbefore described, but which avoids their undesirable features.

` This is done by using. a revolving foraminous or perforated hollow cylinder the full width of the felt and about asubstantial arc of which the felt passes, the cylinder being rotated by contact the cylinder and caused to traversewithin the cylinder throughout the working Width of the felt, together with a cleaning liquid-applying device also of less widththan the felt and movable with the suction box and being so positioned as to direct cleaning liquid against or through the felt just before it is acted upon by the suctionbox.

-By working width is meant the width equal to the widthl of the paper being made. Any width of felt beyond that ofthe paper being made is inactive in so far as the making of the paper is concerned. The driving eiort exerted by the movingv felt'on the cylinder is thus exerted over the full working width of the felt, while the suction drag tending to slow its rotation is exerted thereon 4over 'a very'narrow zone. The driving eiort is therefore many times the retarding effort Aand isv not 'dependent upon any increase in arc of wrap, but to the fact that the length of the cylinder is very much greater than the length at which resistance to' its rotation is applied. Moreover, all of the retarding effect, being transmitted through the cylinder, is exerted throughout the full Width of the felt, instead of locally,

so as to minimize strains and'distortions. This liquid-applying device may be either inside or outside of the cylinder, and when outside it may, if desired, be located on the opposite side of the felt from the suction box.

For a more. complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which g Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of a conditioning machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail partly in side elevation and partly in section showing controls for liquid supply and suction.

with the moving felt, and with this perforated or 55 Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4 4 of Figure 1. t

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 4, but showing a modiiication.

Figure 7 is a detail section on line 'l-T of Figure 6. v

Figures`8 and 9 are views somewhat similar to Figures 4 and 6 but showing further modications.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is shown at I a foraminous hollowl cylinder of metal having closely spaced perforations 2 extending therethrough with their outer ends flaring as at 3. Thisfcylinder is mounted for free rotation, being shown as supported at opposite ends in anti-friction bearings 4. These bearings are positioned beyond the side edges of the paper-making machine felt 5. This felt is suitably guided to extend over an arcuate portion of the circumference of the cylinder within that lengthwise portion thereof in which the perforations 2 are positioned. The bearings 4 are supported at opposite ends on the angle members 5, the upstanding legs 1 of which carry a stationary support 8 which extends completely through the cylinder I.

As shown best in Figure 4, this support 8 may be provided with a pair of lengthwise extending channels and I5 and its outer side walls may be provided with guideways II for slidably re-I ceiving a carriage I2; This carriage I2 engages directly with one of the `ways II and has a bearing block I3 adjustable by the screws I4 supported in a channel portion I5 for engaging the opposite way II. This adjustable block I3 provides means fortaking up wear between the carriage and the support so that the carriage may be maintained in free sliding engagement with the support without undue play. 'Ihis carriage I2 supports a suction box I5 'of less width than the felt 5 and adapted through its mounting on the carriage I2 to be moved lengthwise within the cylinder throughout the full width. of the felt. It is shown as provided with a mouth plate I1 on its upper edge shaped to bear against the inside wall of the cylinder `I and making a substantially fluid tight Joint therewith. l It is shown as provided with oppositely extending supporting arms I8 having pintles I8 slidable in slots 25 of arms 2I upstanding from the top face of the The shaft '44carries a gear 45 meshing through a reverse gear 45 with a gear 41 on a shaft 48,

i and the shaft 48 may be connected through the having suitable nuts thereon engaging above and below the extensions 23.

The suction box I5 is provided with an outlet 25 to which may be secured a pipe connection 25 leading to a fextible hose 21 which lies within the channel` I5. The channel 8 has extending therethrough a threaded shalt and engaging on the threads thereof is a bracket 3i depending from the under side of the carriage I2 so that as this shaft I0 is rotated in one or the other direction, traversing motion is imparted to the slide I2 and thus to the suction box with relation to the cylinder I. This shaft 30 is arranged to be rotated, and for this purpose a reversing drive mechanism has been provided. j

The drive mechanism may be of any desired construction, but as shown it comprises a' shaft A the shaft 32 and over a sprocket wheel on some convenient rotary shaft (not shown) of the paper machine. The shaft 38 is also connectedto be rotated in the reverse direction to that imparted from the shaft 32 through the clutch elements.

33 and 34 and preferably at a higher rate of speed. This is accomplished byV any suitable reversing gear mechanism, that shown comprising the gear 40 carried by the shaft 32 meshing with a gear 4I on a shaft 42 which also carries a gear 43 meshing with a gear 433 on a shaft 44. 7s

clutch elements 49 and 50 with a shaft 5I carrying a gear 52 meshing with a gear 53 carried by the shaft 30. The gears of the train leading from the gear to the gear 53 may be of such relative sizes as to speed up the rotation of the shaft 30 from its speed derived directly through the shaft 32, this being for the purpose of effecting a quick return of the carriage I2 and certain other parts which will later be described, while in inoperative condition, the slower traverse being accomplished while these parts are acting on the felt.

The movable clutch elements 50 and 34 are v connected for simultaneous and opposite motion as by means of a pivoted double clutch yoke 55. 0n the shaft 55 on which this yoke is rockable is a crank arm 51 having a pin 58 arranged to contact with the yoke alternately on either side of its fulcrum, and a spring 50 reacting between this arm and a fixed element 5I tends to throw the arm to either one of its yoke-engaging positions and rock this arm vfrom one to the other of its clutch positions whenever it is moved sufficiently to carry the pin 58 beyond substantial alinement with the shaft 55. Another arm 52 carried by the shaft 55 is pivoted to an actuating rod 53 which may beI moved axially by impingement on either of a pair of dogs 55 thereon ofv a member 55' carried by the carriage I2 so positioned that the rod 53 is moved in one or the other direction when the carriage I2 approachesa desired limit of its axial motion, thus causing a reversal of the direction of rotation of the threaded shaft 35 and starting the traverse of the carriage I2 in the reverse direction. This carriage I2 thus acts to effect a traverse of the suction box I5 across the working width of the felt while the cylinder I prevents direct contact between the felt and the suction box so that it is permitted its desired axial motion without an undesirable drag exerted thereon by suction from the suction box.

Means are also provided for applying to the felt the desired cleaning liquid which is thereaft-er removed by the action of the suction box. In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, the application of this cleaning liquid, such as water. is made outside of the cylinder' itself but ed on a transverse support 1I having an angle guide member .12 thereon for directly supporting the slide 15. A shaft 13 threaded to a pitch corresponding to that of the shaft 35 is housed within the angle of the member 12 and is threaded into a half nut 14 formed on a cross bar 15 secured to the vslide or carriage 10. This slide 15 carries a bracket portion 15 on which is adjustablysupported a nozzle carrier 11 for supporting a nozzle 18 through which a supply of cleaning liquid may be applied to .the felt 5. As shown best in Figure 2, this nozzle may have an elongated opening 13 of a width somewhat lessl than that of the suction box so that the width of the felt to which the cleaning liquid is applied at one time :is limited tothe width next thereafter subjected to suction from the suction box. This nozzle may be adJustablev from and toward the left as desired through screws and box |03 in the direction of rotation of the cylinarcuate slot connections at 80 and/it may be connected with aosuitable supply of cleaning liquid under pressure, as through a flexible pipe 8|. The shaft 13 and the shaft 30 are connected for simultaneous and equal turning motion and to this end they are shown as connected by a chain 82 passing over suitable sprocket wheels 83 and p 84 on thesel respective shafts.

Means may be provided by which the supply of cleaning liquid, and if desired, alsothe suction, may be automatically turned on and so held during the active direction of traverse of the carriages I2 and 10 and shut oil during the inactive directions of traverse. This may be accomplished by a pair of normally closed valves, one of which is shown at 90 in Figure 3 for the pipe 8| and a similar valve (not shown) for controlling the suction through the second pipe 21 by opening or closing a vent to the atmosphere. Each of these may be operated in suitable tiimed relation by pairs of dogs 9|, 92 and 9|a, 92a pivoted to lugs 66 and 65, respectively. These dogs 9|, 92'and Sla, 92a, which may be spring pressed to operative position, actuate star wheels such as 96 on shafts 93 and 94, each of these shafts carrying a valve-actuating cam member 98 having half as, many lobes aspoints on the corresponding star wheels so arranged as to alternately open or allow to close the corresponding control valve. The dogs 9| and 92 step thestar wheels to open the valves while the dogs 9|a, 92a following after, shut off the valves, all these dogs being idle in the reverse direction .of motion. This particular operating means forms no-part of theI present invention, and is shown in greater-detail in my application Serial No. 154,005, led July 16, 1937 (now United States Letters Patent No, 2,308,574 granted January 19, 1943.)

The mechanism heretofore described thus acts to cause a traverse between the nozzle and the suction box with respect to the feltA crosswise of der la. These. devices and |04 are arranged to be resiliently held against the inner wall .of

the cylinder as by means of one or more springs 'by the rotation of a threaded shaft ||0 engaging the felt and the felt may be acted upon through a. substantial arc of the circumference of the width of the felt. Thus the advantages of the full f length support over the cylinder` for the felt, which allows a substantial arc-of contact, coupled with the reduced suction and wear of the felt possible with therelatively narrow suction box and nozzle are obtained, and a driving force applied by the felt to a length of the cylinder greater than the length (crosswise of the machine) of the suction box insures that the cylinder will revolve at the same speed as the felt even when the machine has to be installed in a spaceA which permits of only the minimum are of contact of the felt.

It is not, however, essential that the cleaning liquid be applied outside of the felt supporting cylinder and inFlgures 6,7 and 8varrangements are shown wherein the application of the cleaning liquid is made from within this cylin-l der. Thus in Figure 6 there '1s shown mounted for traverse within the cylinder la a carriage |00 which is provided with pads |0| and |02 directfelt 5.

Within an internally threaded nut which is mounted between end guide flanges ||2 'of the wall members |08, as shown best in Figure '1.

The carriage |00 is thus allowed up and down play with reference to the nut but is constrained to move axially through the cylinder |a by rotation of the threaded shaft ||0. Reverse of traverse may be produced by stop dogs on the carriage and on the reverse rod |09 arranged with the cylinder la, and the control o f liquid supply and suction may be accomplished by motion of this r'od and a rod |09a movable with the carriagein a manner similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2,-except that the valves are located beyond one end of the cylinder la in Athis construction.

In Figure 8 a further modification. is shown having to do particularly with a different device for supplying the cleaning liquid. Referring to this figure, this liquid issupplied to the inside face of the cylinder Ib through a foraminous ring |I5 of substantiallyl smaller diameter than the cylinder and positioned Within it. This ring ||5 is of a length preferably somewhat less than that of the suction box IIB and is mounted for rotation on a carriage ||1 mounted `for axial motion along a U shaped support ||8. The ring ||5 engages externally with the internal face of the cylinder |b so as to be rotated by contact therewith. Within it is positioned a non-rotatable shield ||9 4into which the cleaning liquid is introduced, this liquid being discharged therefrom through the passage |20 which opens against the inner wall of the member H5. In order that the suction box ||6 may be positioned as4 close to the liquid discharge portion as desired, one wall |22 of this suction box is laterally' extended to the desired extent. The liquid is supplied to the interior of the shield 9 through the pipe |23 and the suction box ||6 is connected to a suitable suction apparatus (not shown) through a suction pipe |24. Both the pipes |23 and |24v are supported in av channel |25 on the vtop face of the carriage |26 which has a depending portion |21 internally threadedfor the reception of the lead'screw |28 by the rotation of which the suction box and the liquid supply device are caused to traverse the width of the The reverse of the carriage motion and the control of the valve is accomplished as in the modification of Figure 1v through the reverse rod |29 and the carriage-carried rod |29a, respectively. I

In somel cases it may be desired to supply the cleaning liquid to the opposite side of the felt from that from which it is withdrawn. Mechanism for accomplishing this is illustrated in Figure 9. Within the foraminous cylinder Ic is posiy tioned the ilxed support ,|38 which may be substantially like the support 8 illustrated in Figure 4. On this may be slidably mounted a carriage |3| which carriesA a two-part suction box |32 mounted similar to the box I I8 of Figure 4. One

. screw 30 which moves the carriage |2 of Figure 4.

mounted alongside the cylinder |c, but on the other side of the felt 5, is the slide carrying the liq-` uid supply which may be substantially the same as that shown in Figure 4, except that in Figure 9 the felt passes between the liquidnozzle andv the cylinder lc, whereas in Figure 4 the same side of the felt is exposed to discharge from the liquid nozzle as contacts with the periphery of the cylinder l. The nozzle |42 through which the cleaning liquid is supplied to the felt 5, as shown in Figure 9, applies this liquid to the opposite side of the felt from that occupied by the cylinder |c and closely adjacent to the low suction portion |33 of the suction box. Thus as the felt moves the low suction pulls the cleaning liquid into and through the felt removing the major portion of the free water, after which the high suctionfboxgremoves the water held by way of moisturein the fibers of the felt itself.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. f

Iclaim:

1. FeltY conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length at least as great as the working width of the felt of a paper-makingmachine and over an angular portion of the periphery of which the felt engages throughout the working width of the felt, means auA supporting said cylinder for rotation about its box of less width than said felt supported within said cylinder and having its suction face engaging the inner face of said cylinder opposite to the felt, means for reciprocating said device lengthwise of said cylinder while in contact with the linner face of said cylinder, and means .in ad-l vance of such suction box in the direction of motion of the felt for applying cleaning liquid to the felt limited to the width of the felt next thereafter subjected to suction from said box.

2. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length at least as great as the working. width of the felt of a paper-making machine and over an angular portion of the periphery of which the felt engages throughout the working width of the felt, means supporting said cylinder for rotation about its axis with the felt, a device including a suction box of less width than said felt supported within said cylinder-and having its suction face engaging the inner face of said cylinder opposite to the felt, means for reciprocating said device lengthwise of said cylinder while in contact with the inn-er face of said cylinder, and means within said cylinder in advance of such suction box in the direction of motion of Vthe felt for applying cleaning liquid to the felt limited to the width of thefelt next thereafter subjected to suction from said box. i

3. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of Aa length at least asgreatas the'working width of the felt of al paper-making machine and over an angular portion of the periphery of which the felt engages throughout the working width of the felt, means supporting said cylinder for rotation about its axis with the felt, a device including a suction box of less width than said felt supported within said cylinder and having its suction face engaging the inner face of said cylinder opposite t0 they felt, means for reciprocating said device lengthwise of said cylinder while i'n contact with the inner face of said cylinder, and means outside of said cylinder in advance of such suction box in the direction of motion of the felt for applying cleaning liquid to the felt limited to the width of the felt next thereafter subjected to suction from said box.

4. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length at least as great as the working width of the felt of a paper-making machine and over an angular portion of the periphery of which the felt engages throughout the Working width of the felt, means supporting said cylinder for rotation about lts axis with the felt, a device including a suction box of less width than said felt supported within said cylinder and having its suction face en- 'gaging the inner face of said cylinder opposite to the felt,.means for .reciprocating said device lengthwise of said cylinder while in contact with the inner face of said cylinder, and means on the opposite slide of the felt from said cylinder in advance of such suction box in the direction of motion ofthe felt for applying cleaning liquid to thefelt limited to the width of the felt next thereafter subjected tosuction from said.

box.

5. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length greater than the width of the felt of a paper-making machineand over an arc of the circumference whereof the felt extends, means supporting said cylinder beyond opposite side edges of the felt for rotation about its axis with the travel of the felt, a stationary support extending through said cylinder, a suction box of less width than the felt mounted for motion along said support and with its open face in substantial contact with the inner wall of said cylinder at said arc, means for moving said box back and forth in said cylinder throughout the working width of said felt, and means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said felt in advance of such suction box limited to the width of the felt next thereafter subjected to suction from said box.

6. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length greater than the width of the felt of a paperhmaking machine and over an arc of the circumference whereof the felt extends, means supporting said cylinder beyond opposite side edges of the felt for rotation about its axis with the travel of said cleaning liquid supply means across said felt with the'motion of said suction box.

7. Felt conditioning mechanism, comprising a foraminous hollow cylinder of a length greater than the width of the felt of a paper-making whereof the felt extends, means supporting said cylinder beyond opposite side edges of the felt for rotation about its axis with the travel of the felt, a stationary support extending through said machineand over an arc of the circumference cylinder, a suction vboi: of less width than the felt mounted for motion along said support and with its open face in substantial contact with the inner wall of said cylinder at said arc, means v cylinder being free to be rotated with adjacent portion of said cylinder, and means' for supplying cleaning liquid to the interior of said member. i j

8 In combination a .telt conditioner having a suction box of less width than the working width of a paper machine reciprocable across the working width of such felt and having means foi' rendering such conditioner operative while passing invone direction and inoperative while passing' inthe opposite direction, said conditioner comprising means for supplying cleaning liquid to the felt in advance of such suction box, a forampinous hollow cylinder of a length atleast as great as the working width of the telt and over an angular portion of which said felt the wall of said cylinder being interposed between the suction box and the felt and against the inner face of which said suction vbox rides, said the felt passing in contact therewith.

FREDERICK W. VICKERY. 

